[Ecthyma gangrenosum associated with infection involving a methicillin-sensitive, Panton-Valentine-negative strain of Staphylococcus aureus].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is an anatomoclinical syndrome commonly associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa cutaneous infection. Other microorganisms have also been incriminated on occasion, with other viral, fungal and bacterial agents potentially causing EG. In this report, we present an extremely rare case of an EG caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infection. This case, highly characteristic of EG both clinically and histologically, calls into question the physiopathological mechanisms of the disease and provides a reminder that it may be caused by a variety of organisms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A 62-year-old woman, followed for HIV seropositivity at the AIDS stage, developed a painful purpuric skin rash evolving towards necrotic nodules characteristic of ecthyma gangrenosum. Skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of EG due to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) infection without toxins or bacteraemia.

DISCUSSION:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature in which MSSA is reported as the underlying cause of such lesions.

• Authors: A Buffière-Morgado, C Demongeot, M Battistella, F Taieb, M Viguier, M Rybojad, A Tristan, M Bagot, A Petit
• Journal: Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie (Ann Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 142 Issue 4 Pg. 262-5 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 0151-9638 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Ecthyma gangréneux dû à une souche de Staphylococcus aureus sensible à la méthicilline et non sécrétrice de toxine de Panton-Valentine.
• PMID: 25618459 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Bacterial Toxins
• Exotoxins
• Leukocidins
• Panton-Valentine leukocidin
• Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination
• Methicillin

Topics

• Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination (therapeutic use)
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Bacterial Toxins (analysis)
• Blood (microbiology)
• Confusion (etiology)
• Ecthyma (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy, microbiology, pathology)
• Exotoxins (analysis)
• False Negative Reactions
• Female
• HIV Infections (complications)
• Humans
• Leukocidins (analysis)
• Methicillin (pharmacology)
• Methicillin Resistance
• Middle Aged
• Skin (pathology)
• Staphylococcal Infections (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy, microbiology, pathology)
• Staphylococcus aureus (chemistry, drug effects, isolation & purification)